Barack Obama Clinches Democratic Party Nomination

Barack Hussein Obama, a democratic senator from Illinois, has made history today, becoming the first African American to make a successful run at obtaining the presidential nomination of a major political party in the United States. Given the history and nature of race relations in USA, his nomination is a victory not only for him and the Democratic party, but a victorious attempt by all the people of America to free themselves from the chains of a negative past.

Barack's success demonstrates the progressive nature of the Democratic party and serves as a reminder as to why the majority of minority Americans affiliate themselves with this party. Although the presidential elections are still some months away, the majority of American seem to be buying into the theme of "change," which has been the major theme of Mr. Obama's campaign.

Mr. Obama did not win the presidential nomination easily. His main opponent, Senator Hillary Clinton from New York, the Wife of two term president William Jefferson Clinton, put up a formidable challenge. Senator Clinton is tough, intelligent and detail oriented and she matched senator Obama's wit and eloquence by raising questions about his experience and his expressed desire to talk to "rogue" leaders without preconditions. Senator Clinton however had been one of the senators that had voted to authorize the use of force in Iraq, and with the war being so unpopular, and Senator Obama being opposed to it from the beginning, he was successfully able to link her to the war at the early part of the campaign.

During the later part of the campaign both camps had to deal with accusations of racism and sexism due to the fact that it was the first time in the history of the country that an African American and a woman both had a serious chance of being elected to lead the nation and both camps were enthusiastic and extremely sensitive about their candidates. It is now fervently hoped by leaders of the democratic party that the two camps would bury their differences and come together to fight the general election in November. Most democratics agree that Senators Obama and Clinton have very similar aims; an end to the war in Iraq, universal health care, empowerment and extension of the middle class, renegotiation of free trade policies, the resurgence of American mamufacturing potential, to name but a few, and it would be in the interest of the country for them to unite to fight Republican party nominee John McCain who is seen as representing a third term of George Bush, who is currently very unpopular.

Anybody taking up the mantle of presidency after president Bush faces a Herculean task. The American economy is currently weak, still reeling from the combined effects of the subprime mortgage crisis, the weak dollar, rising gas prices, a five year war in Iraq and a still older one in Afghanistan. Creditors are unwilling to lend and consumer confidence, the main driver of the American economy is very low. Many manufacturers are shipping production to countries with low costs of labor and American car producers, who had devoted substantial resources to the production of gas guzzling SUVs are now scaling back production and hence employment as the demand for SUVs and Trucks are declining due to high gas prices. The American people are however resilient and hardworking, and with the right leadership, the country will likely bounce back.
Sheku Sheriff

Short War Jokes

1. Rebels met an old man and his son running from a village that had just been attacked. "Halt!" the rebels shouted to the two. We would let one of you go and shoot the oldest. The man looked at his stubborn son, turned to the rebels and said, "This is my son, but he is very old."

2. RUF rebels went to department of treasury, stole 7 computer monitors and distributed it to take home. In the evening one called the other and said, "my TV does not have a tuning knob." "Mine does not have work too," The other replied. They went to a TV repair shop, arrested the technician and told him to repair their TVs. "You idiots," the man thought to himself, "These are computer monitors." He did not dare say this aloud. He told them that these were advanced TVs that could only work in Nigeria. Believing him they left the monitors alone, as they wanted nothing to do with Nigerians.

3. Rebels went to a church on Goderich Street one Sunday and said they were there to kill the holiest man. "That must be the pastor, " a young boy in the congregation said. "You bloody idiot who told you that?" The pastor Said. "I do not even believe in God, just here to collect the collection plates."

4. RUF Rebels drove us from our house for a week. When we came back to Freetown after Ecomog, we met one of them there with a big stomach. He had been drinking water out of our toilet basin, thinking it was a water pot.

Trip To New Jersey

Earlier this month we were in New Jersey for the annual Tegloma Mini-Convention. This was of course my first trip to New Jersey, although I had the opportunity to pass through the Garden State on my way to Bridgeport, Connecticut sometime last year.

Although we had some glitches at the Newark Liberty International airport upon arrival, the whole program was generally well planned and executed. The details of the program I will not delve into as I have no legal authority to do so, the transmission of details falling under the authority of the Tegloma Federation executive. Generally though a new Federation Board was elected with Alhaji Mustapha replacing Chairman Saidu as the new Board Chairman.

The best thing about the occasion for me, not counting all the meeting resolutions, was hearing from the head of the NAACP in New Jersey and meeting friends I've not seen since our "bonga Kanda" days in Sierra Leone. I was glad to see friends from my Bo School, Wesley Segbwema and FBC days and genuinely pleased to see the progress some of these noble men and women had made in educational, political, diplomatic and economic spheres of life both in USA, Canada and Sierra Leone.

Given the generally negative things propagated about Sierra Leoneans, this was a pretty much an above the average group.

The tragedy of this trip was that I had left my camera charger in Minneapolis and when I ran out of batteries after just a few pictures, I was sorely disappointed. I was however able to use my cellphone to take some pictures.

47th Independence Day Anniversary Celebrations in Minnesota

Sierra Leoneans in Minnesota decided to come together as a national group this year to celebrate the country's independence. This act of unity was as a result of the collaboration of the executives of all the various subgroups ; Tegloma, Sierrasota, SLAI, Sierra Leone Union, Kono Union and individuals to form the Sierra Leone Community in Minnesota (SLCM.) SLCM was formed out of the recognition that though there may be differences among Sierra Leoneans based on religious, ethnic, regional and political grounds, there are many more commonalities that tie Sierra Leoneans together.

Many members of this community realize that all Sierra Leoneans are one and the same, united by a common and genuine love for their country Sierra Sierra Leone. Some of us were born into mixed ethnic families and realize that diversity is an asset rather than a liability. All well meaning Sierra Leoneans in Minnesota have therefore resolved to always celebrate national activities together under the SLCM and come together to promote the various social groups that exist.

Since its formation in 2006 SLCM has constantly strived to position itself as the umbrella group for all Sierra Leoneans in Minnesota and it has done and is doing a wonderful job. It organized both the 46th and 47th Independence anniversary celebrations. The SLCM now has an office in Minnesota at the Center for Families in Minneapolis.

The various Sierra Leone sub-groups in Minnesata that make up the SLCM are KOno Union whose President is Alhaji Mohamed Sogbeh, Tegloma Minnesota Chapter whose president is Elizabeth Momoh, Sierra Leone Union with President Musa Mohai, Sierra Leone Aid Initiative (SLAI)with president Jonathan Rose, and Sierra Leoneans in Minnesota (Sierrasota) with president Komba Fayia.

The SLCM Board of Directors are Jim Leslie, Gbass Mends, Elizabeth Momoh, Jonathan Rose, Rev. Dr. Richard Shaka, and Aruna Wurie. The Interim SLCM executive is made up of Jonathan Rose-President, Karifa Jalloh-Vice President, Hassan Kamara-Treasurer and Rebecca Johnson-Secretary.

Guest Speakers at the occasion were Mr. Jeff Hall and Ms. Natalie Johnson and the Keynote Speaker was Mr. Mark Kinde.

The program itself was well attended and there was a performance by a group known as Sierrabera, a group of Musicians with origins from Sierra Leone and Liberia. Of course my very Self, Sheku Sheriff was there as a freelance photographer and commentator to monitor the program. There were lots of everything and everybody, I presume, went home in high spirits. The SLCM has a website at www.slcm.us